Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Thompson Funeral Home of Trumann.

Agnes McDaniel

JONESBORO — Agnes McDaniel, 82, of Jonesboro passed from this life on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010, at St. Elizabeth’s Place.

She was born Oct. 12, 1928, in Craighead County to Harry and Ruby Utly McDaniel. Agnes worked for 40 years at Mercantile Bank and was a member of Southwest Church of Christ. She graduated in 1946 from Valley View and then took a business course at Parish Business School.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Betty Jean McDaniel.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

Graveside services and burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in McDaniel Cemetery.

Lasting memorials may be made to McDaniel Cemetery, in care of Ralph Griffin, 5105 Southwest Drive, Jonesboro 72401.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby Sanders of McDougal; daughter, Belinda Beshirs and husband Alex of Springdale; three grandchildren, Steven, Amanda and Chad DeHaan, also of Springdale; mother, Elise Sanders; three brothers; two sisters; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home of Piggott was in charge of the arrangements.

He was born Sept. 4, 1929, in Jonesboro to the late Jess and Maude Thomas. Mr. Thomas retired after 44 years with Craighead Electric Co., where he worked as an electrical engineer. He was the last charter member of the First Free Will Baptist Church and was a deacon. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and working and tinkering in his shop.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Thomas; two daughters and their husbands, Sharon and Fred Graham of Jonesboro and Karon Lynn and Julian Zientek of Houston, Texas; two stepdaughters, Robin Jarvis of San Antonio and Melony Smith of Jonesboro; a stepson and his wife, David and Judy Jarvis of Salem; two brothers and their wives, Harvey and Mary Thomas and Carrol and Edna Thomas, all of Jonesboro; a sister, Jean Smith-Goforth of Jonesboro; five grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; nine stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Pearlia Mae Thomas.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Kevin Barnett officiating. Burial will follow in the Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home of Jonesboro.

Visitation was Wednesday.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Allen Jones, Casey Barker, Bill Jeffrey, Scott Thomas, Mike Thomas and Mike Simpkins. Honorary pallbearers are Frank Jowers, deacons of the church and the afternoon coffee group at McDonald’s.

The family has requested lasting memorials to the First Free Will Baptist Church, 5407 Stadium Blvd., Jonesboro 72401; or St. Bernards Hospice Program, 2813 Forest Home Road, Jonesboro 72401.

John Robert Thompson

MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. — John Robert “JR” Thompson passed away Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, after a short illness, a completion of his life that began Dec. 12, 1934.

Wrapped in 75 years of life was his love for Royce, his wife of 54 years, and his daughter Kay, both of whom still survive.

JR was committed to God and was a longtime member of the Rockford (Ill.) Seventh-Day Adventist Church before helping to start the Belvidere (Ill.) church. He gave countless hours of volunteer service to his church, along with prison ministry, and his musical gifts were enjoyed at local retirement homes.

He was an avid gardener who loved to share the fruits of his labor with friends and strangers alike. JR’s specialty was electronics, and after years of service at various repair places in Rockford, he established North Park TV Service.

A memorial service to celebrate JR’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Clarks Chapel, 2180 Arkansas 351, Paragould. All friends and relatives are invited.

Arrangements were completed by Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory in Rockford.

She was born Oct. 11, 1921, at Corwin, Kan., to Frank Jesse and Bertha Timmons Brown.

She was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy for three years, working in the U.S. Navy office in Washington, D.C. She was retired after 30 years with the Bank of Pocahontas.

She had been a loving member of the First Baptist Church of Pocahontas since 1946, serving as church secretary and treasurer for several decades, as well as teaching children and adult classes. She especially enjoyed working with the bus ministry and Bible school.

Ruth was active in the former B&PW Club and Woman’s Club for many years, holding many local, regional and state offices in each.

On June 21, 1946, she married William Frank Rogers, who passed in 1971. On Sept. 15, 1973, she married Arlo Tyer, who passed in 1985. She was also preceded in death by both parents and two brothers.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Wayne Fair of Pocahontas; one grandson, Mark Segraves of Jonesboro; one great-grandson, Evan Segraves of Jonesboro; one sister, Sue Parker of Heber Springs; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Pocahontas or Sutton Free Will Baptist Church of Pocahontas.

There will be no services held. McNabb Funeral Home was in charge of making arrangements.

Dr. Tyrer was born March 30, 1918, at Lexington, Ky., to Austin Roy and Marie Louise Tyrer. He received his bachelor of science degree from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich., in 1940, and his doctor of medicine from Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif., in 1944. He served two years in the U.S. Army as chief of neurosurgery at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco.

Dr. Tyrer was board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 1952. Dr. Tyrer was a founding partner of The Neurosurgical Group of Memphis, PC, and was a member of the group for more than 40 years. In 1990 he entered solo practice and continued practicing until 2009.

During his more than 60 years of work in the neurosurgical profession, he served as chief of neurosurgery for the Methodist Hospitals of Memphis and was bestowed their Living Award in 1989. As one of 22 founding members of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Dr. Tyrer served as its 13th president. He also played a significant role in the establishment of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS). As a founding member, Dr. Tyrer served on the FIENS Board from its inception and was chairman of the board for 16 years.

In Memphis he was president of many organizations including The Memphis Medical Society, the Board of Health, The Memphis Rotary Club, the Executives’ Club and Junior Achievement. He was instrumental in the establishment and construction of a state institution for the mentally impaired in West Tennessee and was a life trustee of the United Way of the Mid-South.

In 1990 the American Association of Neurological Surgery honored Dr. Tyrer for his numerous contributions at the international, national, state and local levels by choosing him as the fourth recipient of their Humanitarian Award. Among the contributions this award commended were Dr. Tyrer’s active membership on the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (1967-91), his 10 years on the AMA Council on Voluntary Health Agencies (including its chairmanship), his six years on the AMA Council on Medical Service (an elected position), his membership on the Advisory Committee on Volunteer Physicians in Vietnam and his six years on the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

He has been president of the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces. Dr. Tyrer also served two tours of duty on the Good Ship Hope.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Alice Clawson Tyrer of Memphis; and his sister, Eloise Doss of Fort Worth, Texas. His children and their spouses are Dr. Rob Tyrer (Sharon) of Oakland, Calif., Barbara Tyrer Tusing and Dr. Dean Tyrer, both of Jonesboro, Cheryl Tyrer Benton (Phil) of Hot Springs, John Duke (Candy), Mary Duke Ruleman (Mark), Mark Duke and Ben Duke, all of Memphis.

Dr. Tyrer is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, three nephews, five great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave., (901)767-8930, with services to follow at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to either the Church Health Center or the Methodist Healthcare Foundation.